Hip Hop Caucus, a nonprofit organization focused on youth voter engagement, returned to its birthplace of Howard University this week to celebrate its 20th anniversary by highlighting its “Respect Our Vote!” campaign in collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Respect My Vote!” is a Hip Hop Caucus campaign founded in 2008. According to their site, they’ve reached millions of potential voters by recruiting hip-hop artists and social media influencers to spread positive messaging about voting.
Brittany Bell Surratt, the senior director of storytelling and communications at Hip Hop Caucus, shared how they use hip-hop culture to educate and excite the youth.
“Hip Hop Caucus is a nonpartisan nonprofit national organization in which we utilize hip hop culture to organize and mobilize folks to get engaged, specifically on issues such as racial justice, environmental justice and economic justice,” she said.
According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the Gen Z voter bloc has expanded to 41 million, including 5.7 million Black citizens. Similarly, at historically Black colleges and universities, voter turnout has increased from 50 percent in 2016 to 63 percent since the last election cycle.
Hip Hop Caucus played a role in contributing to these numbers by hosting voter registration drives and mobilization tours that brought 375,000 Black people to the polls in 2022.
The event started with a town hall featuring eight speakers who have been involved with the Hip Hop Caucus, including artists, activists, two current students and three Howard alums, including Rev. Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., president of Howard University Hospital and Hip Hop Caucus Board member.
They highlighted key moments in the Caucus’ history, including the production of their podcasts, “Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody” and “The Coolest Show,” as well as the launch of their campaigns and other advocacy work.
The day then transitioned to the “Respect My Vote!” block party outside of Armour J. Blackburn University Center, where hip-hop and politics shared the spotlight. DJ Akademiks set the tone for the event, playing a blend of old and new hip-hop, while members of the Hip Hop Caucus team shared information with students about voting.
In addition to learning how to register in time for the 2024 Presidential Elections on Nov. 5, students received t-shirts stamped with “Respect my Vote!” and took pictures at the photo booth station.
Chris Walton, assistant director for the “Respect My Vote!” campaign, explained the campaign’s goals and its connection to Howard University.
“We are nonpartisan. We are interested in what issues are important to the people, especially in a year like this with voting rights. Howard is ‘The Mecca’ and we have to make sure we are here speaking to our youngest future leaders,” Walton said.
To close the event, the Hip Hop Caucus hosted a series of performances. In addition to Washington musicians Alantra and PinkyThaRapper, Howard students Liyala and Eleven Tha Outcast, both junior advertising majors from Chicago, performed separate acts.
The artists grew up together, both being influenced by music and the belief that it is powerful. Liyala, who defined his flow as addictive, said he makes an effort to highlight struggle in his music, which allows people to resonate with it.
“My music isn’t all positive,” Liyala said. “In fact, I like exposing negativity, because I feel like if you expose your negativity, then it’s easier for people to relate, it’s easier for people to listen, it’s easier for people to go through life because we all go through the same things.”
Eleven Tha Outcast defined his music in three words: emotional, honest and versatile. The audience engaged with him by singing the lyrics and waving their hands back and forth during his song “Nighttime in Chicago.”
“I just want to build a connection with people in my performance,” Eleven Tha Outcast said. “I hope to connect with everybody that’s there, everybody that’s in the audience.”
Both artists were asked to perform at the Hip Hop Caucus event by a friend, and in doing so learned more about the organization. They reflected on the importance of hip-hop for the Black community.
“They’ve been making sure people vote, that’s very important,” Eleven Tha Outcast said. “And different things going on like culture, and the importance of culture, and importance of knowing who you are, and hip-hop has just always kind of been a vehicle for that.”
During the morning’s town hall, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, explained the reason behind founding the organization. He said he and his peers felt young people from certain communities weren’t represented in politics.
“The only reason why culture is important is to give life to your people,” Yearwood said. “If your people are not having joy or fun or freedom, then your culture is useless.”
Copy edited by Anijah Franklin
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